Four men docked over alleged N5.13m property theft

Four men, Samsom Jatto, Toheeb Lawal, James Jatto and Everest Amadi, on Wednesday, appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing N5.13 million worth of property from a hotel.

Jatto 36, Lawal 18; Jatto, 32 and Amadi, 61, were arraigned before Magistrate J.A. Adegun on a four-count charge of conspiracy, burglary, stealing and receiving stolen goods.

They, however, pleaded not guilty.

The Prosecutor, ASP Clifford Ogu, told the court that the defendants and others still at large committed the offences on July 21 at Ikotun, Lagos.

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Ogu alleged that the Jatto, Lawal and Jatto broke into De Kings Hotel, carted away the property belonging to Late Onyebuchi Nnaji and sold some to Amadi.

“The first three defendants stole five generators, a television, cooking gas, cylinder, six speakers, washing sink, a DSTV decoder, four chiller freezers and four fans.

“They also stole four stabilisers, 28 pieces of galvanised irons, among other items, all valued at N5.13 million and some were sold to the fourth defendant.

“The defendants broke into the hotel when the staff travelled to the East to bury the owner, Nnaji,’’ the prosecutor said.

Ogu said that during the investigation, some of the items were traced to the fourth defendant, who was the receiver of some of the stolen property.

The offences violate Sections 287, 307, 328 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 307 stipulates seven years imprisonment for burglary, while Section 328 prescribes 14 years for receiving stolen goods.

Adegun granted the defendants bail in the sum of N500,000 each with two sureties each in like sum.

He said that all the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

The case was adjourned until Oct. 19 for mention.